Friday, September 30, 2005

Protesting 25 to Life

There was a protest outside my work on Monday over the game 25 to Life.
A cops daugther from Roosevelt wanted to protest the game since her dad was killed in the line of duty. Mark Shurtleff and other police families were at the protest.

Well they sent us home at noon on monday to avoid any mishaps..

I thought the whole thing was blown out of proportion and I think it was a way for Mark Shurtleff to get on TV...
Its really sad when people go off about things they know nothing about.. We are developing the game for Eidos. They came up with the content along with a company called Highway 1. We are just making the game as to their specifications, but people in the public can't grasp that concept. Anyway there is no way this game isn't going to go on the shelfs. Eidos has sunk millions into this and if a few dozen Utahns think that it isn't going on the shelf because of them they are sadly mistaken..
It's funny how Shurtleff said that they were postponing the game because he called the Eidos president. What a Joke.. it's being postponed cause it's not finished. It was going to get postponed whether this protest occured or not.

The game isn't as bad as Grand Theft Auto... I don't think.. That being said it is bloody. Kids should definatley not play the game.. That much is for certain but that is why we have ratings.. Parents need to be the parent and take the responsibility.. There are definately things in the media about the game that are not true. I keep hearing there are drive by shootings in the game that you can do... NOT True... The other thing is you hardly ever hear that you can play the cops killing the gang members... All the media is concerened is your killing cops.. How many other games out there do you kill cops in? I can think of several off the top of my head...

The thing that pissed me off about the protest was all the flag waiving and signs saying "take aim at avalanche" and crap like that.. I love police officers and I love america it's not like we are some damn nazis or something. That being said I think everyone has every right to protest the game, but please get your facts straight before going off.

Also If we did not take this contract we would have had to lay off like 30+ people. We didn't want to do that.

One more thing where is the media while we are making all our family friendly games? We have been doing that for years. yet there is never anything in the news about that. We are known for doing kids games.. but when we do one questionable game then they are all over us..

Monday, September 19, 2005

time off

It's been a while since I've updated here..
I've been on vacation for a couple of weeks. Although I decided to take on a freelance job in the time I was off. So it wasn't much of a vacation. I can't believe Tak: The Great Juju Challenge comes out tomorrow. Another game under the belt I guess.

Tuesday, September 06, 2005

volunteers

Well I spent yesterday at the Red Cross for training. I am going to be volunteering some of my time at Camp Williams. They need people for 12 hour shifts. 7am to 7pm or 7pm to 7am. Im not sure what I'll be doing but hopefully I can handle being on my feet that long. Since I'm used to sitting on my butt all day at work. I just felt like I needed to do something. So I should be getting a call from the Red Cross in the next day or 2 to be signing up for some times. Work is fine with it since we happen to be in down time.
Listened to 2 news last night and we have raised over 1.5 million for the people affected by Katrina. Hopefully that money will keep rolling in and we can do our part. I know that people are still suffering in the wake of the hurricane. We must continue to assist these people. At least make them as comfortable as we can while they are our guests here. I was really glad to hear last night that they are starting to pump out the water and have the levies sandbagged.

*more*

How You Can Help Hurricane Katrina Evacuees Temporarily Living In Utah

Contact Information For The Governor's Office
The State of Utah has set up a toll-free phone number for people and community service organizations who want to volunteer time, help, advice and expertise to the hurricane relief effort. That number is 1-866-873-2437.

In addition to the toll free number, an email address, katrinavolunteers@utah.gov, has been created for the same purpose.

The United Way is accepting monetary donations to help hurricane evacuees temporarily living in Utah. You can donate by calling 801-736-8929.

If you would like to donate clothing to victims of Hurricane Katrina that are in Utah, the governor’s office suggests you donate to the Crossroads Urban Center at (801-359-8837), the Salvation Army or Deseret Industries. Do not take clothing directly to Camp Williams.

Food donations can be taken to Salt Lake area Harmons stores, the Utah Food Bank, or you can contact your local food pantry by calling 211.

To donate supplies for the pets of Hurricane Survivors who are now at Camp Williams call Bluffdale Animal Control and ask for Patty Hoaglund at 870-1504.

Friday, September 02, 2005

relief effort / remixes

We raised some good money here in Utah for the katrina relief effort. Last I heard it was over $641,000 but it may be more than that now.
You can still donate online at the Redcross. I've heard we are going to house around 1000 people from Louisiana at one of the military bases here and I heard last night on the news that there may be a prison here that is being unused and has another 1000 or so beds that may be opened up for use. It just doesnt seem enough. I guess every bit helps though. I'm sure that $641,000 will go extremely quick. I hope the government gets in there and gets some stuff done.

I just heard that the donations are at over $800,000 now.. awesome!!

Just got back from Airwaves... handed in the remixes I did of Nine Inch Nails' song Only. It'd be cool if they played one of them on the air. If I win tickets that too would be cool but I'm definately not expecting it or worried about it.

Thursday, September 01, 2005

Feast or Famine

Well I work in the video game industry and I'm either working tons of hours or have very little to do.. thankfully I have very little to do right now.

I brought a kid in the neighborhood in today to test a game. Chicken Little. Although we didn't need him he kept bugging me and my wife to come in cause some of his friends got to come in a few months back. I'm sure they were bragging about being able to test a video game. Kids.... So I told him we needed him although the game is done and at sony right now waiting to go gold. Anyway guess he had a good time. At least with school starting he can brag to his classmates about it. I know I would have when I was a kid in school.

A lot of craziness going on with the flooding and hurricane aftermath in Louisiana and Mississippi. I'm sure I'll donate some money here at some point. I probably need to wait another check before we do that.

laters...
road